Very Basic question about SIM cards and wifi - GSM-Forum

chatan · 04-22-2010, 04:57

Hello all, I am very new to smartphones and ignorant on cell phones in general, so I’m sorry for what probably seems to be a stupid question/problem.

I have a Chinese Clone: Tianxing (Star) N97 Quad Band Dual SIM Dual Standby Touch Screen Slide Phone with TV/WIFI/JAVA

I DO NOT intend on using the phone function at all. So it has no SIM cards in it. I only wanted it for WIFI Opera, skype, and also MP3, Videos, etc.

I can connect to WIFI network OK. Shows good signal strength. But all my apps (Opera, nimbuzz, etc) say something like “Connection Failed” or “No Network”.

I have tried all the settings I can find. A web searching has not lead me to an answer; and, as expected, the manual is next to worthless.

Do I HAVE TO have a SIM card in it to use the WIFI ? Appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

Rather Unique · 04-22-2010, 23:26

Hi, I have the same phone. A sim card is not needed for wifi connection as I never had a problem getting online before I got service. It could be because you forgot to enter your network passcode, or maybe clicked on the wrong WLAN network. Also be sure to save your home network as an access point through the settings, so you wont have to enter in the password every time you have to reconnect, makes it much easier and quicker to get online. Hope this helps

Proxy · 04-23-2010, 02:48

Applications on these phones are Java based. so cross the fingers and pray to ''higher existence fields'' to have a needed java settings which allows access to wifi for apps ...

some clone models have this option ( for example htc hero lookalike WG3 , but after activating virtual keyboard in java settings (for skype) , phone crashed

)
Mostly these clone phones are %$$^$ with less fuctionality than ... ( enter here anything ) ...

chatan · 04-23-2010, 06:41

Ok Thanks!

The phone (under wifi status) shows I do have a good connection and there is some data transfer registering. In further seaching I've found some people have had problems with certain routers and having to turn off DCHP, etc, etc.

I'll continue to play and test, with the confirmation it is not a SIM card issue. Thanks again!

chatan · 04-26-2010, 11:53

Well, I got an email back from the company I bought it from (chinabuye) and it turns out that actually for my phone, a SIM card IS REQUIRED for java apps to work with wifi .
I remembered I had an old SIM card and once I pulled it in, all the java apps had WIFI ! Yeah!

04-22-2010, 04:57	#1 (permalink)
chatan Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Japan Posts: 5 Member: 1288647 Status: Offline Thanks Meter: 0	Very Basic question about SIM cards and wifi Hello all, I am very new to smartphones and ignorant on cell phones in general, so I’m sorry for what probably seems to be a stupid question/problem. I have a Chinese Clone: Tianxing (Star) N97 Quad Band Dual SIM Dual Standby Touch Screen Slide Phone with TV/WIFI/JAVA I DO NOT intend on using the phone function at all. So it has no SIM cards in it. I only wanted it for WIFI Opera, skype, and also MP3, Videos, etc. I can connect to WIFI network OK. Shows good signal strength. But all my apps (Opera, nimbuzz, etc) say something like “Connection Failed” or “No Network”. I have tried all the settings I can find. A web searching has not lead me to an answer; and, as expected, the manual is next to worthless. Do I HAVE TO have a SIM card in it to use the WIFI ? Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

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04-22-2010, 23:26	#2 (permalink)
Rather Unique Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 2 Member: 1288771 Status: Offline Thanks Meter: 1	Hi, I have the same phone. A sim card is not needed for wifi connection as I never had a problem getting online before I got service. It could be because you forgot to enter your network passcode, or maybe clicked on the wrong WLAN network. Also be sure to save your home network as an access point through the settings, so you wont have to enter in the password every time you have to reconnect, makes it much easier and quicker to get online. Hope this helps

04-23-2010, 02:48	#3 (permalink)
Proxy Freak Poster Join Date: May 2004 Location: Riga , Latvia Age: 43 Posts: 443 Member: 66399 Status: Offline Thanks Meter: 42	Applications on these phones are Java based. so cross the fingers and pray to ''higher existence fields'' to have a needed java settings which allows access to wifi for apps ... some clone models have this option ( for example htc hero lookalike WG3 , but after activating virtual keyboard in java settings (for skype) , phone crashed ) Mostly these clone phones are %$$^$ with less fuctionality than ... ( enter here anything ) ...

04-23-2010, 06:41	#4 (permalink)
chatan Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Japan Posts: 5 Member: 1288647 Status: Offline Thanks Meter: 0	Ok Thanks! The phone (under wifi status) shows I do have a good connection and there is some data transfer registering. In further seaching I've found some people have had problems with certain routers and having to turn off DCHP, etc, etc. I'll continue to play and test, with the confirmation it is not a SIM card issue. Thanks again!

04-26-2010, 11:53	#5 (permalink)
chatan Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Japan Posts: 5 Member: 1288647 Status: Offline Thanks Meter: 0	Well, I got an email back from the company I bought it from (chinabuye) and it turns out that actually for my phone, a SIM card IS REQUIRED for java apps to work with wifi . I remembered I had an old SIM card and once I pulled it in, all the java apps had WIFI ! Yeah!